evocative
i-VOK-uh-tiv
/ɪˈvɒk.ə.tɪv/
Bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind.
Something evocative acts as a trigger, pulling deep-seated emotions or vivid mental pictures out of the observer's memory. It is often used to describe music, scents, and writing.
The story behind the word. Evocative comes from the Latin 'evocare', which means 'to call forth' or 'to summon'. It is made of 'ex-' (out) and 'vocare' (to call). In ancient Rome, 'evocatio' was a ritual where priests would summon the protective gods of an enemy city to abandon them and come to Rome instead.
Word relationships
- suggestive: Suggestive means bringing something to mind, but can sometimes have improper or sexual connotations, whereas evocative is purely artistic and emotional.
- reminiscent: Reminiscent means tending to remind one of something specific, while evocative is broader, calling up rich, sensory atmospheres.
- unexpressive: Unexpressive means lacking in expression or feeling, failing to convey any emotion.
- bland: Bland means lacking strong features or characteristics, and therefore failing to stimulate interest or memory.
Commonly confused with
- provocative: Provocative means causing anger, excitement, or sexual desire, while evocative means calling forth memories or emotions.
Word family
- evocation (noun): The act of bringing or recalling a feeling, memory, or image to the conscious mind.
- evoke (verb): To bring or recall to the conscious mind.
Collocations
- evocative of
- evocative language
- evocative imagery
- deeply evocative
Example sentences
- "The violin solo was deeply evocative, conjuring up images of a lonely landscape covered in winter snow." Describing a musical piece
- "The smell of damp earth is evocative of childhood summers spent playing in the woods." Describing the power of scent
Memory hook
Think of 'voice'—an evocative piece of art 'calls out' to you with a powerful 'voice' from your past. Evocative calls up memories.
When not to use
Do not use 'evocative' for things that are merely informative or clear. A textbook is informative; a poem about a childhood home is evocative.
Fun facts
- Olfactory memories (triggered by smell) are often considered the most evocative of all sensory experiences because the olfactory bulb is directly connected to the brain's emotional center, the amygdala.
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.